As a way to ensure students get the most out of their educational experience, the House passed legislation this week that would remove the heavy focus on standardized testing as a requirement to graduate and instead allow students various options to show proficiency in pursuing their own career paths.

Senate Bill 1095 would provide Pennsylvania students with additional options to fulfill high school graduation requirements beyond the Keystone Exams. Students who do not score proficient on the Keystone Exams would be able to demonstrate their readiness to graduate through alternative routes.

Specifically, the bill outlines several commonsense options for assessing student performance while also giving teachers more flexibility with classroom instruction time. Some alternatives include a student’s successful completion of work-based learning programs, a service learning project, or an offer of full-time employment as evidence of post-secondary readiness.

As part of the bill, the Keystone Exam graduation requirement would be put on hold until the 2021-22 school year. The alternate graduation options in Senate Bill 1095 would take effect when that delay expires.

This legislation, which now goes back to the Senate, seeks to enhance a multi-bill package to expand career and technical education to benefit both students and employers looking to fill jobs in high-demand fields.

New Law Enhances Training, Oversight of Humane Officers

To help ensure the state’s animal cruelty laws are enforced in the fairest way possible, legislation has been signed into law to strengthen the training and oversight of Humane Society police officers.

Act 77 of 2018 increased initial and annual training hours for Humane Society police officers, and requires the training to include the proper procedure to file citations and warrants, including when and how to contact other law enforcement.

Other provisions of the new law require training in farm operations and biosecurity, including at least one on-site visit to a working commercial farm operation. Any organization that employs Humane Society police officers will be subject to the state’s Right-to-Know Law.

Additionally, a Humane Society police officer must be a resident of Pennsylvania. If the appointment of a Humane Society police officer is revoked in one county, it would be revoked in all counties.

House Passes Bill to Crack Down on Hazing

Legislation that seeks to better ensure the safety of students on college campuses by cracking down on hazing passed the House this week.

Senate Bill 1090 is a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s anti-hazing law to give law enforcement better tools to prosecute hazing-related activities and to encourage those nearby to call for assistance for someone who may need help.

Specifically, the bill would increase penalties for those involved in hazing; require schools to have policies and reporting procedures in place to stop hazing; and ensure that parents and students are provided with information related to the issue. The legislation also would establish clear parameters on hazing for organizations such as fraternities and sororities.

The legislation is named in memory of Tim Piazza, a Penn State student who died as a result of hazing in 2017 and was denied medical care for hours. The measure now heads back to the Senate for concurrence.

PennDOT Wants to Hear From You

PennDOT has a new and easier way for you to report concerns on state-maintained roadways.

The Office of State Fire Commissioner is urging residents to “look, listen and learn” as part of this year’s theme for Fire Prevention Week, which lasts through Saturday, Oct. 13.

With today’s homes being filled with synthetic materials that burn hotter and faster, residents may have as little as two minutes to safely exit a burning structure.

The theme focuses on three basic but essential ways to quickly and safely escape a home fire: Look for places fire could start; listen for the sound of the smoke alarm; and learn two ways out of every room.

A home escape plan includes working smoke alarms on every level of the home, in every bedroom and near all sleeping areas. It also includes two ways out of every room, usually a door and a window, with a clear path to an outside meeting place that is a safe distance from the home.

On Monday, the Mobile Vet Center will be available for you from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Brady/Cavany parking lot on State Route 29 in Eaton Township.

My Legislation on the Move!

This week, two pieces of legislation I authored were unanimously passed by the House:

House Resolution 1141 - Designates Oct. 15-19, 2018, as “Small Business Development Center Week” in Pennsylvania.

House Resolution 1142 - Designates Oct. 19, 2018, as “Lock 'Em Up Day in PA” as a reminder to keep prescription drugs locked away securely in your home.

Happy anniversary!

The Wyoming County Courthouse is celebrating its 175th anniversary.
Carol Sweeney, my Tunkhannock District Office Manager, recently presented a House certificate on my behalf to Commissioners Judy Mead (left) and Tom Henry.

Problems With Wetlands and Waterways Permits?

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is launching a new electronic system to increase efficiency and get a faster response on permitting for new projects that affect wetlands and waterways.

We still have room for you at the “Opioid Update Event” I am sponsoring in conjunction with Misericordia University this Thursday, Oct. 18 at Insalaco Hall, 301 Lake St., Dallas. We’ll begin at 9:30 a.m., and the featured speaker will be Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Rachel Levine.

Members of the STOP and HOPE coalitions from Luzerne and Wyoming counties will be on hand, along with numerous agencies, to provide information.

I recently spent a morning with “our future” when I was invited to serve as a mystery reader at Elk Lake Elementary School.

Have Federal Government Questions?

A representative from Congressman Lou Barletta’s office will visit my Tunkhannock district office this Monday from 10 a.m. to noon.

This is your opportunity to get answers to questions on issues such as Social Security and Medicaire.

It’s for a good cause!

I had a great time Saturday at the 4th-annual Noxen Fall Festival. Thanks to everyone who came out to support the effort to build a children’s recreation center.

The Medicare Open Enrollment period….

..runs from this Monday, Oct. 15, to Friday, Dec. 7. During this time, you may make changes to various aspects of your coverage.

If you have questions about your Medicare coverage, APPRISE, the State Health Insurance Assistance Program in Pennsylvania, has counselors who are specifically trained to answer your Medicare questions.